Majority coalition pulls out of Armenian parliament session
Mediamax news agency
12 Apr 04

YEREVAN
The ruling political coalition in Armenia said today that they would
not take part in the plenary sitting of the National Assembly on 12-14
April.
National Assembly Chairman Artur Bagdasaryan read out a statement to
this effect by the coalition parties’ parliamentary factions in the
parliament chamber today, Mediamax’s parliamentary correspondent
reports. The coalition consists of the Republican Party of Armenia
(RPA), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun and
Orinats Yerkir [Law-Governed Country Party].
The statement says that the decision was taken “to avoid deepening
domestic political confrontation”.
The Armenian opposition intends to organize a march this afternoon by
its supporters down Bagramyan Avenue, where the National Assembly and
presidential administration are located.

Armenian official urges opposition to end “undesirable political processes”
Arminfo
12 Apr 04
YEREVAN
The Armenian opposition should do everything possible to cut short
undesirable political processes or slow them down, Artashes Tumanyan,
head of the Armenian presidential administration, has said in an
interview with Armenian Public TV.
The opposition should not refuse to do legislative work. Although in a
political minority, it should try “to push through” certain bills. It
would be normal and civilized for the opposition to act so, Tumanyan
said. He disagreed with the view that the opposition had no other way
out but boycott the parliament sessions.
Speaking about the main opposition demands, he explained the first
point by a less than perfect electoral system. It is no secret that
since 1995 all the elections in Armenia have been “vulnerable” due to
various reasons. Until now, no amendments were made to the electoral
system, and here lies a broad area for the legislative activities. But
for reasons unknown, the opposition is not debating that despite the
fact that the views of the president and the coalition often coincide
with the initiatives put forward by the opposition. The latter had
repeatedly spoken about its readiness for dialogue.
The paucity of the opposition MPs does not mean at all that any
proposals by the opposition will be rejected, Tumanyan said.
From: Baghdasarian

Armenian protesters outside parliament, close to presidential palace
A1+ web site
12 Apr 04
A procession of protesters stopped outside the Armenian parliament.
The rest of the way leading to the presidential palace, which is only
100-120 metres away, is blocked by barbed wire with soldiers behind.
It is calm outside parliament. Music is being played. The protesters
are holding their hands up. A few minutes ago they started to chant
unanimously “Kocharyan, go”.
Academician Rafael Kazaryan is going to make a speech.
From: Baghdasarian

Armenian opposition calls for meeting with speaker
Mediamax news agency
12 Apr 04
YEREVAN
Police have blocked several demonstrators on Bagramyan Avenue outside
the National Assembly, 200 metres away from the building of the
Armenian presidential administration.
Bagramyan Avenue was blocked by the double line of barbed wire and
police units with water cannons.
The opposition is now holding a rally outside the Armenian National
Assembly. The leader of the opposition National Unity Party, Artashes
Gegamyan, called on the police to abstain from any actions against the
protesters.
Viktor Dallakyan, an MP from the Justice bloc of the Armenian National
Assembly, voiced the opposition’s demands. First, he said several
opposition MPs should be given an opportunity to meet “the state’s
second person” – Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan. Dallakyan said that “we
want to invite him here for him to address his nation”.
Second, the deputy said, the opposition wants a meeting with Police
Chief Ayk Arutyunyan “who fulfilled the authorities’ illegal order and
blocked our way”. Moreover, Viktor Dallakyan said, “we urge all TV
channels of the country to make it possible for us to go live on air”.
The opposition did not specify the kind of actions it would resort to
if the above demands were not met.
The law enforcers, who are blocking the protesters way on Bagramyan
Avenue, are not using force.

Armenian defence minister, US envoy discuss military cooperation
Arminfo
12 Apr 04

YEREVAN
Serzh Sarkisyan, defence minister and secretary of the Armenian
president’s National Security Council, today met the US ambassador to
Armenia, John Ordway.
The sides discussed the current level and prospects for development of
Armenian-American relations in the military sphere, the Armenian
Defence Ministry spokesman, Col Seyran Shakhsuvaryan, told Arminfo
news agency.
At the end of the meeting the American diplomat invited the Armenian
defence minister to take part in the opening ceremony of a hospital in
Talin on 14 April. The hospital has been restored with financial aid
from the US command in Europe.

Armenian opposition say over 250 arrested, “junta in its death throes”
Mediamax news agency
12 Apr 04
YEREVAN
MP Viktor Dallakyan, member of the opposition Justice bloc, said in
Yerevan today that “the Armenian authorities are deliberately
heightening tension in the country. It will be them who will bear the
responsibility for a possible negative outcome.”
Speaking at a briefing at the headquarters of the People’s Party
today, Dallakyan said that some 250 people had been “unlawfully
detained” over a sit-in and protests on Freedom Square.
Dallakyan said that Tatul Manaseryan and Vardan Lazarian, MPs of the
Armenia’s National Assembly from the Justice faction, were taken to
police station today. The two intend to get in touch with the speaker
of the National Assembly, Artur Bagdasaryan, and demand that measures
be taken to free them, Dallakyan said.
“Such acts by the authorities testify to the fact that the junta is in
its death throes,” he said. The leaders of the Justice bloc have sent
a letter to Council of Europe Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer, and
to the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe, Peter Schieder.
The letter mentions “illegal acts by the authorities against peaceful
demonstrators”.
Another member of the Justice faction, Shavarsh Kocharyan, today
accused the Armenian authorities of carrying out “the policy of state
terror against their own people”. He said that the authorities have
consistently ignored the constitution which entitles its citizens to
stage peaceful rallies and marches.
The speakers told the briefing that the opposition’s decision to stage
a rally and march to the presidential residence today at 1600 [0900
gmt] remains unchanged.

Armenian government’s commitments to be “clearly” defined under new procedure
Mediamax news agency
12 Apr 04

YEREVAN
A number of changes has been made to the procedure on the Armenian
government’s activities.
The minister and head of the Armenian government staff, Manuk
Topuzyan, said that the need for amending the president’s decree on
the procedure of the government’s activities emerged due to the fact
that the executive body’s powers and commitments are not clearly
defined. The Armenian government’s activities are not regulated by any
law.
In line with the introduced amendments the prime minister’s powers,
the juridical status of deputy ministers and heads of departments
under the government, including appointments made by the prime
minister, will be clearly defined, Manuk Topuzyan said.

OSCE representative goes to Armenian parliament
Noyan Tapan news agency
12 Apr 04
YEREVAN
The head of the OSCE office in Armenia, Vladimir Pryakhin, arrived in
the building of the Armenian National Assembly at 1725 [1225 gmt] on
12 April. In remarks to journalists about the purpose of his visit, he
said that he was here to discuss the internal political situation and
steps which are being taken with Armenian Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan.
He said that he also plans to discuss the adoption of the law on
rallies, meetings and marches.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zanganeh Says Draft Contract for Gas Exports to Armenia Ready
Tehran Times
13 April 2004
TEHRAN (PIN) — Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh stated that
a draft contract for gas exports to Armenia was ready.
He added that Iran’s exports to Armenia will start at 500m cu. m. and
could be increased up to 1.5b cu. m.
The minister further told Petroenergy Information Network that the
contract would soon be signed by Armenian officials.
Zanganeh noted that general talks had been carried out with Indian
companies for developing some Iranian fields and negotiations on LNG
exports from Iran to India would parallel those talks.
`If the talks prove fruitful, implementation of ensuing projects will
not take long,’ he said.
Zanganeh noted that setting a deadline by the Indian side was
pointless and new reports sometimes sought to affect the process of
negotiations.
Some news services had reported that a senior official of the Indian
ministry of petroleum had announced a four-month deadline for Iran.
Based on the deadline, if Iran wanted to export 5m tons natural gas to
India, it should give development of a big field to Indian companies.

Armenians Hold Large Anti-Government March
VOA News
12 Apr 2004, 23:54 UTC

Opposition members protest holding Armenian flags in Yerevan, Monday,
April 12, 2004 Thousands of anti-government demonstrators marched in
downtown Yerevan Monday, demanding Armenian President Robert Kocharian
resign.Police kept the marchers away from the presidential palace.
Many of the demonstrators held signs calling Mr. Kocharian an
illegitimate president. They say he was re-elected in March, 2003 in a
rigged vote. They are also demanding the government allow a
no-confidence referendum on the Kocharian government.
International observers have said the presidential vote and a May,
2003 parliamentary vote fell short of international standards for a
fair election.
Armenian opposition leaders hope to launch a bloodless popular
uprising similar to the one in November in neighboring Georgia that
forced President Eduard Shevardnadze to resign.